Pool-ball frame.



No. 743,4e4.

ilatented. ovember 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

RAFFAELE DABRAMO, 0F BROOKLYN, YORK.

POOL-BALL FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,464, dated November 10, 1903. Application iilodSeptember 9, 1903. ,Serial No. 172,464. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern,.- l

Be it known that I, RAFFAELE DABRAMO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pool-Ball Frames; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has relation to that class of devices consisting of an equilateraltriangular-shaped frame used in bunching or setting up the pool-balls in pyramidal form upon a billiard-table, and after removing the frame the balls will be left in contact with each other ready for the players to commence the game of pyramid pool.

Previous to my invention the rails or bars forming the three sides of the equilateral-triangular-shaped frame were constructed of a single piece of wood or other material of the required length to form the three angular rails or bars necessary to produce the shape of frame, the length of material being bent into shape and the meeting ends fastened or rigidly connected together, or the frame was constructed of three or more separate and independent strips or piecesvof material and afterward hinged or otherwise secured t0- gether at their meeting ends to form a rigid equilateral-triangularshaped frame when in use, in which the pool-balls are placed.

In the pool-ball frames constructed as above described when saidframes arein use the rails thereof wouldbe perfectly rigid, or, in other words, the side rails would be incapable of outward movement to increase the size of the opening of the frame, so that said frame could be lifted off the pool-table without disarranging the pyramidal shape in which the balls had been placed.

It is the object of the invention to provide a pool-ball frame in which thetwo side rails or bars will be independent of the rear or cross rail or bar, whereby the side rails or ing the balls; Fig. 2, a similar view showing a modification of the invention.

ln the accompanying drawings, A B represent the two side rails of an equilateral-triangular-shaped pool-ball frame, which rails may be made separately and afterward con nected together at the apex of the angle formed thereby, or the two rails may be constructed from a single piece of material of the required length and bent to form the two side rails of the frame.

As the essential feature of the invention resides in so constructing the frame that the two side rails thereof may be sprung out laterally to release the frame from the pool-balls, it is immaterial whether the two side rails are constructed of a single piece of material or two separate pieces and afterward connected together or whether the frame be formed of metal, wood, or other material, as I do not Wish to be confined in my invention to the material used or to the manner of constructing the two side rails of the frame.

When the side rails are constructed from one and the same piece of material, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, it is preferred that the material used possess a sufficient amount of resiliency or elasticity to enable the side rails ofthe frame to be sprung outward when required to release said frame from the poolballs, as shown in dotted lines; but the side rails may be connected in any suitable manner that will admit of the rails being forced outwardly to increase the size of the opening in the frame and enable it to be lifted on the billiard-table without destroying the position in which the balls have been placed. A suitable connection is formed between the rear or free ends of the rails A B, and in the present instance I have shown the cross-bar C, which is one of many means that may be employed for this purpose, and in Fig. 1 of the drawings the bar is shown as extending through elongated slots a in the ends of the IOO rails, said bar having notches b to enable the bar to engage the slots.

The free ends or extremities of the rails A B project inwardly and mayincreasein thickness to provide thumb-pieces c, and the projecting ends of the` crossbar C may be similarly constructed, as shown at d, for the ngers, the thumb resting against the ends of the rails and the fingers against the ends of the cross-bar and said bar pressed inward in the direction of the arrow in Fig. l of the drawings, which will cause the rails to be forced outward and enable the frame to be raised off the table Without disturbing the pool-balls. The same result is obtained in the construction shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and in place of slotting the ends ofthe rails A B the same are provided with grooved brackets e, and the cross-bar C reduced at its ends to engage said grooves, as shown at f, suitable stops g preventing the reduced ends of the cross-bar from being disengaged from the grooved brackets, the brackets serving as thumb-pieces to force outward the side rails of the frame.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings the side rails A B are shown as formed separately and connected together by a spring, as shown at h, or by any suitable means that will admit of the two rails being moved outward to increase the size of the opening in the frame after the same has been placed upon the pooltable and the balls placed in the frame, and, if desired, the reduced ends fof the crossbar C' may have guide-pins t' thereon t0 engage guide-grooves j in the ends of the side rails to better guide-the cross-bar back and forth, or any other suitable means may be substituted therefor, as found desirable.

In further describing the construction of the pool-frame when the spring action is employed the tension of the spring has a tendency to draw the side rails toward each other, and the cross-bar will limit the inward motion as well as the outward motion of the rails. The spring action of the two rails is secured at the apex of the angle formed thereby, and for convenience I will use the term spring action, which Idesire to be understood as used in its broadest sense and to cover the side rails when formed of one andv after the frame has been placed upon the table and the balls placed in the frame to increase the size of the opening in the frame and enable it to be readily and easily raised up oi the table without any liability of disarranging the pyramidal shape in which the balls have been placed. d

It is evident that many changes or modiiications may be made in the construction of the pool-ball frame without in any manner affecting the essential feature of the invention, which resides in so constructing the frame that the side rails thereof are enabled to be sprung or forced outward and laterally to increase the space in the frame,and thereby admit of the frame being raised ofl: the table without affecting the position of the poolballs, and a pool-ball frame possessing this feature comprises the essential element of the invention. r Having now fully described my invention,

-what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A pool-ball frame, comprising two side rails which are capable of outward movement after the complete number of balls have been placed in the frame whereby the size of the opening in the frame is increased to enable the sa-me to be removed without disarranging the pyramidal shape in which the balls have been placed, and suitable means connecting the free ends of the side rails, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A pool-ball frame, comprising two side rails which have a springA connection, and means for limiting the inward and outward movement of said rails, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A pool-ball frame, comprising two side rails capable of outward movement after the complete number of balls have been placed in the frame, and a cross-bar loosely connecting with the free ends of the rails whereby the rails are allowed to be moved outwardly, substantially as and forthepurposedescribed.

4. A pool-ball frame having its side rails capable of being forced outwardly and the free ends of the rails projecting inwardly, and means connecting the free ends of the rails, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RAFFAELE DABRAMO. 

